While it is commonly known that unhealthy foods and associated food additives are not sources of good and wholesome nutrition – what is the truth as to whether or not it they are actually harmful to you? Just how toxic are they?
We look at a common and popular snack “food” and break down and examine what it is composed of and, more interestingly, what artificial ingredients are added to it with potentially harmful effects.
For our purposes we will look at the snack food that “once you pop you can’t stop.
A highly processed food – what are Pringles made of?
Before considering the exact ingredients that make up this popular snack – let’s look at the truth of the tagline “once you pop you can’t stop”.
In other words – how addictive is this junk food?
Research has strongly suggested that the specifically measured combinations of salt, fat, and carbohydrates found in many snack foods – which includes Pringles, can activate dopamine releasing areas of the brain. This results in a triggering of cravings for more – this may contribute to overeating and a difficulty in controlling consumption.
(Source – Therapeutic Kitchen)
Ok – let’s look at the exact ingredients:
Highly processed foods – are there natural ingredients?
Potato
This is promising – potato actually features in this potato snack – but wait – the potato content is only 42% of this adulterated product. And re-constituted at that!
Put in other words – 58% (the majority) of the contents of this potato snack aren’t even vaguely related to the honest potato.
This is worrying. Let’s move on to more unsettling territory – the other 58%.
Unhealthy foods and food additives – what are the worrying ingredients?
Vegetable oils
Vegetable oils are a source of unhealthy saturated fats – some more than others.
This particular product contains at least one of the following vegetable oils:
• Corn oil – has a 13% (by weight) saturated fat content
• Cottonseed oil – has a 26% (by weight) saturated fat content
• Soybean oil – has a 16% (by weight) saturated fat content
• Sunflower oil – has a 13% (by weight) saturated fat content
Clearly, avoiding the consumption of saturated fats is preferable – the danger of a highly processed food such as this, is that you would be totally unaware of its saturated fat content (unless carefully analysing the food label).
Wheat starch
This extracted starch is used in the food production industry primarily as a thickening agent.
Be aware that wheat starch will naturally contain gluten – you can assume that unless the food label specifically states that the product is gluten free, it will contain gluten if wheat starch is an additive.
Highly processed food is a problematic source of refined starches – studies have shown that over-consumption of these carbohydrates is linked to a higher risk of developing the following:
• Obesity
• Cardiovascular disease
You can almost sense Big Pharma rubbing its greedy hands with glee in anticipation of ever-increasing profits!
Maltodextrin
Maltodextrin is a type of carbohydrate extracted from rice, corn, potato or wheat starch by intense industrial processing. This creates a white starchy powder that manufactures use as a food additive to improve the density, taste and shelf life of a processed food.
The problem with maltodextrin is that it has a high glycaemic index (GI) – this may result in intense spikes in levels of your blood sugar. Limiting (or stopping) consumption of maltodextrin may be considered a measure in the prevention of type 2 diabetes.
Monosodium glutamate – a mainstay of highly processed food
You have probably heard a lot about monosodium glutamate – but what is it?
It’s basically a highly processed food flavour enhancer – this being a common additive.
It’s classified by the all-knowing power that be as a safe ingredient – however it is of no value nutritionally and may come with a raft of possible side effects. These are elements of “MSG Complex” and may include:
• Headache
• Flushing
• Sweating
• Palpitations
• Chest pain
• Nausea
• Weakness
Its use is continually questioned and, significantly, it is required by law to be a listed food ingredient.
Disodium inosinate
Just when you get your head around the concept of potentially toxic monosodium glutamate the compound disodium inosinate (also known as inosine monophosphate or IMP) is thrown into the mix!
This is “considered safe”– whatever that means – and is used in conjunction with MSG (as a flavour enhancer).
It carries similar consequences as MSG.
It shows the rubbish nature of these so-called foods that they need “flavour enhancers” in the first place – proper food would use such natural flavour enhancers as spices.
Disodium guanylate
Disodium guanylate is yet another “flavour enhancer”- it does beg the question what this rubbish would taste like without these toxic additives!
This additive also has a E number – E627 – and unfortunately an impressive number of possible reactions including:
• Behavioural problems in children
• Lethargy
• Insomnia
• Seizures
Sodium caseinate
This particular gem is used as a highly processed food additive as a thickener, stabiliser and texturizing agent.
This particular chemical is derived from the mammalian milk protein casein – so apart from any other consideration do not think this is a vegan product – it is not.
Interestingly, many highly processed foods that contain sodium caseinate are dishonestly labelled as “non-dairy”.
Modified food starch
Just when you thought the carbohydrate/sugar hit was over we now find that a further nutritionally bereft ingredient is modified food starch – yet another carbohydrate.
This one is a food additive is used as a thickening, stabilising or anti-caking agent.
Dextrose
Not enough of a sugar hit yet? – never fear, these manufacturers have come to your rescue by adding this sugar derived from corn.
Partially hydrogenated coconut oil
Partially hydrogenating coconut oil turns it into a solid at room temperature and improving its handling qualities.
Unfortunately, this process also transforms partially saturated fats within coconut oil into harmful trans fats – admittedly not a huge amount however this will add to your trans fat intake, particularly if your diet is questionable. (Check out our article on trans fats for further details)
Monoglycerides – more fats in highly processed food
Monoglycerides are emulsifiers – they are added to processed foods to effectively prevent water and oil from separating.
They are fats which may be converted within the body to harmful triglycerides – with negative consequences for heart health.
Natural and artificial flavourings
This is a worrying one – the ingredients in this category are shades of Eastwood – the additives “with no name”! At best they are described as being “plant-based” – this clearly may cover a multitude of sins.
In summary, by eating this particular highly processed food you are consuming a concoction consisting of less than 50% natural ingredients (reconstituted at that) along with a concoction of fats, carbohydrates, sugars, artificial flavourings and potentially toxic flavour enhancers.
You may argue that the amounts within a product such as this are not significant – however be very aware that over the course of time a lot of a little equals a lot!
BON APPETIT!
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“BE TRULY FREE – BE PHARMA FREE”